Frame-work for skylights



(No Model.)

0 w. STRAND. FRAME WORK FOR SKYLIGHTS.

No. 350,448. Patented Oct. 5,1886;

WITNESSES was.

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UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES \V. STRAND, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FRA-M E-WORK FOR SKYLIG HTS.

ELPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,448, dated October 5, 1886.

;Application filed March 10, 1886. Serial No. 194,696.

I 0 tr whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. STRAND, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fram'e-RVorks for Skylights; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in frame-works for skylights; and it consists in certain features of construct-ion and in combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a skylight embodying myinvention, portions of the same being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective showing a portion ofthe skylight-curb, and more especially the anchors for securing the rafters. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the foot of a rafter, a portion of the curb, and a portion of the apron E.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation showing the manner of securing the rafters at the top. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View in perspective showing the end of one of the cross-bars with a glass resting thereon, showing also a portion of the apron H. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the apron H. Fig. 7 shows the foot of a rafter with the anchor attached. The apron E is also shown in position and a portion of the curb. Fig. 8 represents the apron E detached from the curb. Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the upper end of one of the rafters.

A represents the curb of the skylight that extends upward from the roof in the usual manner. B is a supporting bar or rafter. the same being of solid rolled metal, the form thereof in cross section being shown more clearly in Fig. 1, and is substantially in the form of an inverted double T, having a head, I), that serves as a base, and ribs 1) that form ledges to support the glass of the crossbars, and a web, b", of considerable depth, to give greater. strength to the rafters, enabling them to support not only the weight of the structure,

but to sustain the downward pressure of strong winds, the force of which latter is some- (No model.)

the rafters and bolted through and through.

Slots 0 are 'made in the mitered ends of the rafters to receive the angle-irons O, the latter when in position coming flush with the top of the ribs 1). The angle-irons 0 form a continuous rib for the skylight and a cross-tie for the rafters. At the bottom the rafters have usually square ends and abut, respectively, against the anchors D. These latter are usually flat bars of iron bent in the form shown and extend at da trifle above the ribs Z), and below the bend extend some distance down the outside of the curbing, to which latter the anchors are firmly secured,usually by bolts. A tongue, (1, proj ects at right angles from the body of the anchor,with which it is integral or rigidlysecured. The tongue overlaps the .lower portion of the web of the rafter and is bolted or riveted securely thereto. Anaproml], made of sheet metal, is bent in the form shown more clearly in Fig. 8. The part 6 of the apron extends down outside the anchor, and at the bottom is nailed to the curb, the sheet metal readily bending in at the bottom the thickness of the anchors. The groove 0' of the apron fits over the points (1 of the anchors and holds the apron against the ends-of the rafters, and the exwrnal ridge formed by this groove serves as an abutment for the lower edge of the glass. The part c of the apron is notched to embrace the webs of the rafters and ex tends on top of the ribs 1) and forms a ledge for supporting the lower edge of the glass. Each rafter is provided with a gutter, F. The

latter are made of sheet metal and extend under the head I), and are bent at the edges to hook over the head, as shown in Fig. 1. These gutters are slipped, respectively, onto the rafters before the latter are secured. These gutters extend the entire length of the rafters,

and consequently at the bottom are flush with the outside of the curbing. The gutters are wider than the anchors, and can therefore discharge freely on either side of the anchors. These gutters are supposed to carry off only a trifling amount of water, mainly the drip that is formed by condensation of vapor on the under side of the skylight. AS the apron E is not bent in close at the corners of the anchors in nailing the apron to the curb, there is always left plenty of room for the water down by the edges of the anchors. Crossbars G extend from rafter to rafter to support the adjacent edges of the glass I. These cross-bars are of sheet metal and bent in the form shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The ridge 9 forms an abutment to the adjacent panes of glass. The ledges g, being usually from one-half to threequarters of an inch (more or less) in width, support the glass, and the gutters g catch any drip that there maybe and conduct the same to the gutters F. Notches g are made to fit the ribs 0 of the rafters. These cross-bars are slid along up the rafter to where the joint in the glass occurs, and any desired number of such cross-bars are used, according to the nu1nber of glasses in each tier. Thelower glass is first laid resting upon the ribs 1) of the rafters, and at the bottom resting on the ledge e of the apron E, and above resting on the lower ledge, g, of the crossbar. The glass at all of the edges is bedded in putty. Next,an apron, H, the same consisting of a strip of sheet metal bent in the form shown in Fi 6, is placed in position, the part h overlapping the upper edge of the glass j ust placed, and the part h resting on the upper ledge, g, of the cross bar. The next pane of glass is then placed in position and bedded in putty, as aforesaid. The lower end of this glass of course rests upon the part h of the apron and thetop surface of this pane of glass is supposed to come flush with the offset in the apron Hthat is, in line with the part h. The water cannot set back under the glass and overflow the edge of this apron, partly because of the putty, and also because the upper edge of the part 72, owing to the inclination of the skylight, is higher than the offset of theapron. The successive panes of glass are laid in the manner just described, the upper edge of the upper pane resting upon the angle-iron 0. Caps 0, made of thin sheet metal, and bent to corre spond with the angle-iron C, are fitted in between the rafters and placed over the ridge, overlapping, of course, the upper glass on each side of the ridge. Next, the caps J are placed in position astride the rafters and are secured by pins j, that pass through the legs of the caps and through the rafters near the upper edges of the latter. The caps J are of thin sheet metal, bent substantially'in the form shown in Fig. 1. These caps, except at the extreme top, are not expected to fit the web of the rafters, but thelegs or the cap are spread apart, and the edges thereof turn under, as shown, the object being to give some elasticity to the legs of the caps, so that, when they are pressed down upon the glass, they will fit the latter, and, while holding the glass in place, are not sufficiently rigid to break the glass. The caps J, when in position, hold not only the glass, but hold the caps O inv place.

Skylights in large buildings are frequently of great size, serving sometimes to light the entire central portion of the building. Such skylights shouldbe constructed with great care and of the best material, both to insure safety and durability. In such structures the rafters hcrei 11 described will be found of great value, and the entire structure is believed to be far superior to any skylight frame-work heretofore made.

What I claim is-- i 1. The combination, with rafters of solid metal bars rolled in the form in section of an inverted double T, of anchors, the same having tongues secured to the web of the rafters,

the body of the anchors arranged at right an gles to the said tongues and extending down and secured to the skylight-curb, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the anchors D, of the apron E, the latter having a groove, 6, adapted to fit the upper end of the anchor, said apron extending under the glass and extending down the outside of the curb, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with rafters B, having slots 0, of an angle-iron inserted in the slots of the rafters and arranged to form a crosstie and ridges for the skylight, substantially as set forth.

4-. The combination,with rafters and angleirons, arranged substantially as described, of a cap, 0, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination,with rafters, angle-irons at the sides, and caps above the angle-irons and glass, of caps J, secured to the rafters and extending over the edges of the glass and over the ends of the caps C, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the rafters B, of the crossbars G- and apron H, arranged substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1886.

CHARLES \V. STRAND.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. Donna, ALBERT E. LYNCH.

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